Audiovisual and interactive media
The Cinematography Act Nr. 8096121, approved on 21/03/1996, was a challenge to the existing system of the state-owned film industry, and encouraged prospects for the development of this industry in Albania. The Law provided that one per cent of the income resulting from the selling of tickets must be invested to support Albanian films produced by the National Centre of Cinematography (NCC). Film producers were expected to direct 20% of their income from selling films to cinemas or TV companies to the NCC. This commitment was not always realised by the film producers due to certain reasons.
In 2007 the Albanian Audiovisual Media Authority was created and was authorized to control content, issue fines and suspensions. In 2013 the law Nr. 97/2013 on “Audio visual media in the Republic of Albania” came into effect. By 2018 the Government set out to amend the laws 97/2013 and later 9918/2020122 in what was known as “the anti-defamation package”. The Albanian government continued to push for the amendments despite criticisms from civil society, the OSCE and the Venice Commission Opinion Nr. 980/2020 of 19 June 2020. The new provisions aimed to grant the Albanian Media Authority the power to adopt restrictive measures, including the forced removal of content. In 2021 the ruling Socialist party was accused of filling the Media Authority with party loyalists123, and The Delegation of the European Union in Tirana requested the postponement of the election of the President of the Audiovisual Media Authority.
The INSTAT 2020 Business Register lists 266 companies involved in motion picture, video & television, sound recording and music production, 202 companies involved in printing and reproduction of recorded media, and 187 companies in programming and broadcasting.
In 2020, from the age group 16 – 74 years, 72.2% of the population use the Internet, of which 88.2% use it every day. From this age group, 98.8% of individuals access the internet through mobile/ smart phones. While 24.4% and 7.2% of the target population uses the internet through laptops and tablets. 93.9% of individuals that have interacted with public authorities through the internet are satisfied with the services offered.
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